10. Balak’s anger was kindled. Undoubtedly he now realized to the full the deception under which Balaam had come to him.
Smote his hands. An expression of contempt and a sign of great anger (see Job 27:23; Lam. 2:15; Eze. 21:17). He may have thought Balaam in league with Israel and therefore making sport of him (Balak).
Three times. Balak had in mind the labor and expense involved in a threefold repetition of building the altars and offering the sacrifices, and the false hopes that had been raised each time.